Managing challenging behaviour in children with possible learning disability

A mother visits her general practitioner with her 3 year old daughter. She is concerned that the child is having regular “melt downs” and has become defiant when, for example, getting dressed or putting on her shoes. Her daughter is physically aggressive towards her and other family members. This happens often and sometimes lasts for up to an hour. The family has tried reward charts, time outs, and positive reinforcement.

Challenging behaviour is commonly defined as behaviour that is of an intensity, frequency, or duration that threatens the physical safety of the person or others or restricts access to community facilities.12 Challenging behaviour can first occur in childhood and can be difficult for parents, carers, and family members to understand and manage. Parents and carers may present to healthcare services, including their GP, with concerns about their children’s behaviour.

In some cases, challenging behaviour may be a sign of a known or an undiagnosed learning disability. This article gives particular advice about how to identify and manage children where a learning disability might be a contributing factor.